The PREview exam measures professional competencies you have developed over time through activities like coursework, working or playing on teams, and volunteer or work experience.
Preparation will help you go into the exam with more confidence. Our resources provide an understanding of the competencies measured by the exam and explain what the exam will ask you to do. Here are some tips to get you started.
Learn about the PREview exam
Become familiar with the competencies measured by the PREview exam. Pay special attention to the key traits associated with each competency.
Use the Examinee Preparation Guide to learn what the exam measures and what the exam is asking you to do. For example, it is important to know that the exam is not presenting a scenario and asking what you should or would do. It is instead presenting statements that are actions that could be taken.
- The exam asks you to determine if the action (or response) will make the situation better or worse.
- You will be asked to rate the response as effective, ineffective, very effective, or very ineffective.
- The guide includes definitions of the effectiveness ratings to help you understand the different levels.
- Review the AAMC Preview sample scenarios and instructions to familiarize yourself with the questions and answer choices.
Take Practice Exams
Taking full-length practice exams is the most effective way to understand what the test measures, build skills, and prepare for test day. The AAMC offers three full-length PREview practice exams, including a new Scored Practice Exam. Two free, unscored PDF practice exams include scoring keys and rationales to help you become familiar with the exam format, question types, scenarios, and the process for evaluating and rating responses. The new Scored Practice Exam is delivered in the MCAT Official Prep Hub and provides a scaled score and percentile rank, just like you will receive on the actual exam.
- AAMC PREview Exam Practice Exam 1 (Free)
- AAMC PREview Exam Practice Exam 2 (Free)
- AAMC PREview Scored Practice Exam ($20)
How to use the Practice Exams:
- Begin by taking the PREview Exam Practice Exam 1 under timed conditions, review your answers against the scoring key, and use the rationales to understand how response effectiveness is evaluated and how it aligns with the key traits associated with the professional competencies.
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Next, take PREview Exam Practice Exam 2, applying what you learned from the first practice exam.
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Finally, take the Scored Practice Exam under timed conditions in the MCAT Official Prep Hub, and review your answers compared to the provided rationales.
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Review videos and webinars to help you prepare for the PREview Exam.
Prepare for Test Day
Preparing for the PREview exam also means making sure you understand how to navigate the exam platform and are familiar with the online testing experience. See More About AAMC PREview Test Day for all the information you need to ensure a smooth test day experience. Note that the new Scored Practice Exam is delivered online but does not use the exam platform.